Pear tree named ‘HW624’

ABSTRACT

The invention is a new and distinct pear tree variety denominated ‘HW624’. The new pear tree is characterized by producing heavy crops of medium-to large-sized fruit, picked about 2 weeks after ‘Bartlett’. Fruits are green when harvested, turning yellow as fruits ripen, and there is a medium red blush where exposed to the sun. There were no natural fire blight infections on the seedling tree, and results from controlled inoculations indicate a high level of resistance to fire blight. The tree is also highly resistant to pear psylla.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pyrus communis.

Variety denomination: ‘HW624’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct pear tree described and claimed herein originated from a controlled cross between ‘Harrow Sweet’ and ‘NY10353’ made in 1988 in Harrow, Ontario. Pedigree of ‘HW624’ is shown in FIG. 1.

‘HW624’ was selected as a hybrid seedling (‘H8806-1’) in 1995 and propagated by budding on pear seedling rootstocks. Trees were planted in an evaluation orchard in 1999 in Jordan Station, Ontario. This selection was advanced and tested in regional trials beginning in 2000.

‘HW624’ is harvested two weeks after ‘Bartlett’, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ is harvested three and a half weeks after ‘Bartlett’ and ‘NY10353’ is harvested one week before ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has medium to large size fruit, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ also has medium to large size fruit and ‘NY10353’ has small, plump spindle shaped fruit. ‘HW624’ fruit is yellow with a Red Blush at maturity, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ fruit is yellow at maturity. ‘HW624’ has a high level of resistance to fire blight and psylla, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ has good resistance to fire blight and ‘NY10353’ has good resistance to psylla and fire blight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the new pear tree ‘HW624’, the profile of the sides of the fruit of ‘HW624’ is straight whereas they are concave on the reference varieties ‘Bosc’ (R1), ‘Harrow Sweet’ (R2), ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ (R3) and ‘Bartlett’ (R4). The ground colour of the skin of ‘HW624’ is yellow whereas it is yellow green on ‘Bosc’, ‘Harrow Street’ and ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has a medium to large area of over colour of the skin whereas there is none on ‘Bosc’, small to medium area on ‘Harrow Street’ and very small on ‘Bartlett’. The over colour of ‘HW624’ is dark red whereas it is orange red on ‘Harrow Street’, ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has no russetting around the eye basin, on the cheeks or around the stalk attachment of the fruit whereas ‘Bosc’ has a large to very large area. The fruit stalk of ‘HW624’ is thin whereas it is medium thickness on ‘Harrow Street’ and ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and thick on ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has weak curvature of the fruit stalk whereas the curvature is medium to strong on ‘Bosc’, medium on ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and absent on ‘Bartlett’. The attitude of the sepals on the fruit of ‘HW624’ is spreading whereas it is erect on ‘Bosc’ and ‘Harrow Street’ and converging on ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ is resistant to moderately resistant to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) whereas ‘Bosc’ is moderately susceptible and ‘Bartlett’ is susceptible. ‘HW624’ is resistant to moderately resistant to pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Foerst) whereas the reference varieties are susceptible.

The following are major distinguishing characteristics. ‘HW624’ is a mid-late season pear cultivar for the fresh market. ‘HW624’ produces heavy crops of medium-to large-sized fruit, picked about 2 weeks after ‘Bartlett’. Fruits are green when harvested, turning yellow as fruits ripen, and there is a medium red blush where exposed to the sun. The tree has consistently produced heavy crops, with no evidence of biennial bearing. There were no natural fire blight infections on the seedling tree, and results from controlled inoculations indicate a high level of resistance to fire blight. The tree is also highly resistant to pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Foerst). In years when orchard populations of psylla have been high, trees of ‘HW624’ have had no noticeable presence of this insect pest. ‘HW624’ is not graft-compatible with quince rootstocks. The characteristics most useful in distinguishing ‘HW624’ are fruit characteristics and resistance to fire blight and resistance to pear psylla.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic illustration illustrates in full color ‘HW624’. The colors are as nearly true as reasonably possible in color representation of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description below, which accurately describes the colors of the new pear tree.

FIG. 1 shows pedigree of ‘HW624’.

FIG. 2 shows five examples of the fruit of ‘HW624’ compared to the fruit of ‘Bosc’ (R1), ‘Harrow Sweet’ (R2), ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ (R3) and ‘Bartlett’ (R4).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ‘HW624’ variety is uniform and stable. Asexual propagation maintains uniformity and stability. No off-types, variants or mutations have been found to date. Virus-tested ‘HW624’ is maintained in North Saanich, British Columbia.

The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society 1966 version has been used for colour identification of fruit and shoot. The description is based on observation of four trees grafted on seedling rootstock originally established during the 1999 growing season. Comparisons were made with ‘Bosc’ (R1), ‘Harrow Sweet’ (R2), ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ (R3) and ‘Bartlett’ (R4). Four trees of each variety grafted on ‘Bartlett’ open pollinated seedling rootstock were spaced about 3 metres apart with about 4.5 metres between rows and were observed during the 2009-2010 growing seasons in Jordan Station, Ontario. Fire blight evaluations and observations were conducted in 1988-2000 in Harrow, Ontario. ‘HW624’ was observed to be able to survive winter conditions (−29° C.) in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, while still having a full crop the following season. The observed chilling range for ‘HW624’ is 800-1000 hours, measured during the dormant period temperature below 45° F.

‘HW624’ R1 R2 R3 R4 Tree: Vigor medium very medium strong medium to strong strong to strong Branching strong medium strong medium medium to strong to strong Habit spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading to drooping Mature height near 12 (ft.) Mature spread near 10 (ft.) Trunk diameter near 130 30 cm above ground (mm) Trunk colour 197B Branch length near 50 (cm) Branch diameter near 8 (mm) Branch crotch near 35° angle Branch texture smooth Branch colour 177B

‘HW624’ R1 R2 Shoot—One-year-old: Growth wavy wavy wavy Length of internode (cm) Mean 3.42 4.28 3.02 Std. deviation 0.37 0.67 0.48 Length of shoot (cm) near 15 Diameter of shoot (mm) near 4 Texture smooth Predominant colour on brown purple brown purple orange sunny side (178A) brown Number of lenticels many (near many medium to 15 per cm²) many Shape of lenticels oblong Height of lenticels (mm) near 2.5 Diameter of lenticels near 1 (mm) Colour of lenticels 156A Shape of apex of acute acute acute vegetative bud Position of vegetative slightly held slightly held slightly held bud in relation to shoot out out to mark- out edly held out Length of vegetative bud near 15 (mm) Diameter of vegetative near 2 bud (mm) Colour of vegetative bud 143B Size of bud support medium small to small to medium medium Shoot—Young: Anthocyanin colouration very strong strong to medium of growing tip (during (180A) very strong rapid growth) Intensity of pubescence weak to weak to weak to (upper third) medium medium medium R3 R4 Shoot—One-year-old: Growth straight to wavy straight to wavy Length of internode (cm) Mean 3.26 3.55 Std. deviation 0.58 0.46 Length of shoot (cm) Diameter of shoot (mm) Texture Predominant colour on sunny side medium brown orange brown Number of lenticels medium to medium to many many Shape of lenticels Height of lenticels (mm) Diameter of lenticels (mm) Colour of lenticels Shape of apex of vegetative bud acute acute Position of vegetative bud in slightly held adpressed relation to shoot out Length of vegetative bud (mm) Diameter of vegetative bud (mm) Colour of vegetative bud Size of bud support medium small to medium Shoot—Young: Anthocyanin colouration of medium to medium growing tip (during rapid growth) strong Intensity of pubescence (upper weak to medium third) medium

‘HW624’ R1 R2 Leaf—Blade: Attitude in relation to shoot outwards downwards outwards Length (cm) Mean 6.5 7.1 7.1 Std. deviation 1.0 1.3 1.2 Width (cm) Mean 4.3 4.3 3.8 Std. deviation 0.7 1.0 0.8 Length/Width ratio small to medium medium to medium large Leaf shape elliptic Shape of base right-angled obtuse right-angled Shape of apex obtuse right-angled right-angled (excluding pointed tip) Length of pointed tip short short short Incisions of margins bluntly crenate bluntly (upper half) serrate serrate Depth of incisions of margin shallow shallow shallow Curvature of longitudinal very weak weak to weak axis medium Leaf texture—top smooth Leaf texture—bottom smooth Leaf colour—top 137B Leaf colour—bottom 147B Leaf—Petiole: Length (cm) Mean 2.7 2.2 2.4 Std. deviation 0.6 1.0 0.7 Diameter (mm) near 1.2 Colour 144C Presence of stipules present Absent or present weakly present Distance of stipules from medium medium short to basal attachment of petiole to long medium R3 R4 Leaf—Blade: Attitude in relation to shoot outwards outwards Length (cm) Mean 6.3 6.5 Std. deviation 0.8 0.7 Width (cm) Mean 3.8 3.9 Std. deviation 0.7 0.6 Length/Width ratio medium medium Leaf shape Shape of base right-angled right-angled to obtuse to obtuse Shape of apex right-angled right-angled (excluding pointed tip) to obtuse Length of pointed tip short to short very short Incisions of margins bluntly serrate bluntly serrate (upper half) Depth of incisions of margin shallow shallow Curvature of longitudinal axis weak very weak Leaf texture—top Leaf texture—bottom Leaf colour—top Leaf colour—bottom Leaf—Petiole: Length (cm) Mean 2.1 2.0 Std. deviation 0.7 0.8 Diameter (mm) Colour Presence of stipules present present Distance of stipules from short to short basal attachment of petiole medium

‘HW624’ R1 R2 Flower: Time of beginning of Early (May) medium to early to flowering late medium Time of full bloom May Location of flower bud mainly on mainly on mainly on on shoot spurs spurs spurs Length of flower bud (cm) Mean 5.4 5.9 5.5 Std. deviation 0.7 0.5 0.6 Shape of flower bud obtuse Diameter of flower bud (mm) near 5 Colour of flower bud 49D Flower diameter (mm) near 2 Flower depth (mm) near 1 Flower fragrance nutty/almond Number of flowers per 7 cluster Sepal length (cm) Mean 5.9 8.3 6.7 Std. deviation 0.6 0.7 0.7 Attitude of sepals in relation recurved recurved recurved to corolla Sepal number 5 Sepal shape obtuse Sepal width (mm) near 2 Sepal apex and margin reddish and pointed apex and margin Sepal texture—top smooth Sepal texture—bottom smooth Sepal colour—top 22A Sepal colour—bottom 35B Arrangement of petals not touching not touching to to touching touching overlapping Petal number 5 Petal shape irregular Petal apex and margin irregular Petal texture—top smooth Petal texture—bottom smooth Petal colour—top NN155C Petal colour—bottom NN155C Position of stigma in same level same level above relation to stamens Size of petal small to medium medium (length/width (mm)) medium (10/12) Shape of petal circular to ovate circular (excluding the claw) broad ovate Shape of base of cuneate to cuneate rounded petal (excluding the claw) rounded Length of claw of petal short medium medium Anther number 12 Anther length (mm) near 3 Pollen colour N200A Stigma length (mm) near 0.1 Stigma colour 155B Ovary colour 192D R3 R4 Flower: Time of beginning of flowering medium to late medium Time of full bloom Location of flower bud on shoot mainly on spurs mainly on spurs Length of flower bud (cm) Mean 6.3 4.1 Std. deviation 0.4 0.3 Shape of flower bud Diameter of flower bud (mm) Colour of flower bud Flower diameter (mm) Flower depth (mm) Flower fragrance Number of flowers per cluster Sepal length (cm) Mean 7.9 7.0 Std. deviation 1.1 1.2 Attitude of sepals in relation to recurved spreading corolla to recurved Sepal number Sepal shape Sepal width Sepal apex and margin Sepal texture—top Sepal texture—bottom Sepal colour—top Sepal colour—bottom Arrangement of petals touching touching to overlapping Petal number Petal shape Petal apex and margin Petal texture—top Petal texture—bottom Petal colour—top Petal colour—bottom Position of stigma in relation to same level same level stamens Size of petal (length/width (mm)) small to medium medium Shape of petal circular circular (excluding the claw) Shape of base of petal rounded Rounded (excluding the claw) Length of claw of petal very short short Anther number Anther length (mm) Pollen colour Stigma length (mm) Stigma colour Ovary colour

‘HW624’ R1 R2 Fruit: Length (cm) Mean 8.7 10.2 9.1 Std. deviation 1.0 0.9 0.9 Maximum diameter (cm) Mean 6.9 7.0 6.6 Std. deviation 0.6 0.5 0.6 Length/Diameter ratio small to medium to medium medium large Position of maximum slightly to- slightly slightly diameter wards calyx towards calyx towards calyx to clearly to- wards calyx Size large large medium Shape slightly asymmetric Symmetry (in slightly slightly slightly longitudinal section) asymmetric asymmetric asymmetric to strongly asymmetric Profile of sides straight concave concave Weight (g)—mean 159.45 Ground colour of skin Yellow (11B) yellow green yellow green Relative area of over medium to absent or small to colour large very small medium Hue of over colour dark red orange red (42B) Relative area of absent or large to absent or russet around eye very small very large very small basin Relative area of absent or large to absent or russet on cheeks very small very large very small Relative area of absent or large to absent or russet around stalk very small very large very small attachment Length of stalk (mm) Mean 3.2 5.0 3.4 Std. deviation 0.7 0.7 0.6 Thickness of stalk thin (near 4 thin to medium medium mm) Curvature of stalk weak medium to weak to strong medium Attitude of stalk in oblique oblique oblique relation to axis of fruit Depth of stalk cavity medium to absent or shallow deep (near very shallow 5 mm) Diameter of stalk near 15 mm cavity Attitude of sepals (at spreading erect erect harvest) Eye basin (at harvest) present present present Depth of eye basin (at medium to shallow shallow harvest) deep (near 10 mm) Width of eye basin (at medium narrow to medium to harvest) (near 35 mm) medium broad Relief of area around slightly slightly ribbed slightly ribbed eye (at harvest) ribbed Texture of flesh very fine very fine very very fine Firmness of flesh medium to medium soft to firm medium Juiciness of flesh medium to juicy juicy to juicy very juicy Flesh brix 11.8 to 13.5 Flesh colour 158C Fruit locule number 5 per fruit Fruit locule length near 10 (mm) Fruit locule width near 6 (mm) Seed shape ovate ovate elliptic Seed length (mm) near 8 Seed width (mm) near 4 Number of seeds per 3 to 5 fruit Number of seeds per 1 locule Seed colour 165B-C Time of maturity for Late very late very late consumption (September) Observed harvest Sep. 18, 2013 dates of fruit Sep. 23, 2014 Sep. 19, 2015 Sep. 14, 2016 Fruit production (lbs 120 per tree per year) R3 R4 Fruit: Length (cm) Mean 9.1 9.0 Std. deviation 0.8 0.9 Maximum diameter (cm) Mean 6.8 6.8 Std. deviation 0.6 0.6 Length/Diameter ratio medium small to medium Position of maximum slightly towards in middle diameter calyx Size large medium to large Shape Symmetry (in longitudinal slightly symmetric to section) asymmetric slightly asymmetric Profile of sides concave concave Weight (g)—mean Ground colour of skin yellow yellow green Relative area of over colour medium between very small and small Hue of over colour orange red orange red Relative area of russet around absent or absent or eye basin very small very small Relative area of russet on absent or absent or cheeks very small very small Relative area of russet around small very small to stalk attachment small Length of stalk (mm) Mean 3.7 2.8 Std. deviation 0.9 0.6 Thickness of stalk medium thick Curvature of stalk medium absent or very weak Attitude of stalk in relation to straight to straight to oblique axis of fruit oblique Depth of stalk cavity medium medium Diameter of stalk cavity Attitude of sepals (at harvest) converging converging Eye basin (at harvest) present present Depth of eye basin (at harvest) shallow to deep medium Width of eye basin (at harvest) medium narrow Relief of area around eye smooth embossed (at harvest) Texture of flesh very very fine very very fine Firmness of flesh medium medium to firm Juiciness of flesh medium to juicy juicy Flesh brix Flesh colour Fruit locule number per fruit Fruit locule length (mm) Fruit locule width (mm) Seed shape elliptic ovate Seed length (mm) Seed width (mm) Number of seeds per fruit Number of seeds per locule Seed colour Time of maturity for medium medium to late consumption Observed harvest dates of fruit Fruit production (lbs per tree per year)

‘HW624’ R1 R2 Disease/Pest Reactions: Fire blight (Elwininia resistant to mod- moderately resistant to mod- amylovora) erately resistant susceptible erately resistant Pear psylla resistant to mod- susceptible susceptible (Cacopsylla pyricola) erately resistant R3 R4 Disease/Pest Reactions: Fire blight (Elwininia resistant to mod- susceptible amylovora) erately resistant Pear psylla susceptible susceptible (Cacopsylla pyricola)

The ‘HW624’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions. 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pear tree substantially as herein illustrated and described. 